American hero thrashed...

[Ben Huh]

[exploited]

Absolutely.

Things have become so twisted that the average person actually loathes other average people for doing well.

We have had a tremendous amount of wealth simply stolen from us, and instead of focusing on that problem, we fight for scraps. The most unproductive class in the world owns the vast majority of resources, and what gets us all concerned about government finances is middle-class pensions? Somehow removing 2-5% of the budget is going to fix our finances, even as it takes money right out of the pockets of the already dwindling middle class?

It is insane. We need to exercise solidarity. The only way we are going to fix our society is if we organize and demand that our conditions are improved, just like our forefathers did. Unions are the only goddamned reason why the US was as successful as it was, and it is no accident that the fall of unions coincides perfectly with the rise of oligarchy. I want people to work less and make more. I want to see MORE pensions, not less. It makes zero sense at all to respond to our current situation by making things worse for the middle class. Seriously.

[The Comrade]

[Ben Huh]

[exploited]

[Winchester]

[Ben Huh]

[exploited]

What about a hybrid? Defined contribution for 20 years service, after 30, the city is on the hook? I'd like to preserve pensions as they are as much as possible.

On the other hand, I might support abolishing pensions altogether were a universal guaranteed income put in place.

[Winchester]

[Ben Huh]

I enjoy the fact that I have plenty of say in the retirement my employer and I are setting up together. I am ensured that if my company were to go bankrupt, my donations and investments would still be available and that that portion is always safe, or so long as I make good investments on my side. Making a retirement plan is an investment, as it should be, and like all investments there are lots of risks involved. I count myself fortunate that I have made sound financial decisions and above else chose to live in a ridiculously cheap area in terms of cost of living. My annual cost of living after I purchase my home will be ~$7,000 and that includes the property taxes I'll pay for owning my house outright. The government simply either needs to stop promising shit they can't pay for (to anybody) or these pensions need to be reworked moving forward to include a direct investment by the employee.